Notable Campgrounds
- Best for tent campers: Gooseberry Glen Campground has six cart-in sites with minimal facilities.
- Best for hikers: Cedar Hill Campground has 69 sites, some with electric hookups, and easy access to the Coyote Point Trail.
- Best for winter campers: Minneiska Campground has 39 RV sites with electric hookups, plus walk-in tent sites, group sites, and camper cabins.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve one of the park’s campsites or cabins in advance via the Minnesota State Parks website.
- Campsite reservations open 120 days in advance, and same-day bookings are possible.
- Campsites can book up as fast, especially on summer and holiday weekends. Book your spot as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
When to Go
Whitewater State Park has something to offer through all four seasons. Come in summer to swim and fish; in spring to admire the wildflowers; or in winter to cross-country ski or snowshoe (rentals are available from the Visitor Centre). April through October is the main season, and many amenities close in winter. Minneiska Campground and cabins stay open year-round; all other campsites are open from March 25 through December 1.
Know Before You Go
- Whitewater State Park is 26 miles east of Rochester or about a 35-minute drive away.
- Vehicle permits are required for all Minnesota state parks, in addition to camping reservation fees. Permits can be purchased in advance via the Minnesota State Parks website.
- Facilities at Whitewater State Park include a visitor center, gift shop, vault toilets, a fishing pier, and picnic areas. Flush toilets, showers, and a dump station are available in season only. Restaurants and grocery stores can be found in the towns of Elba and St. Charles, just a 15-minute drive from the park.
- There are accessible campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas at Whitewater State Park. The fishing pier is also wheelchair accessible.
Whitewater State Park MN
Hike a mountain, hit the beach, or fish for trout at this popular park.
Rocky bluffs and forested ravines flank the Whitewater River in this 2,700-acre park, where outdoor activities abound. Climb the craggy peak of Inspiration Peak, fish for brown and rainbow trout along the river, or head down to the sandy beach to cool off with a swim in the natural lake. More than 10 miles of hiking trails are ready for exploration, and when the seasons turn, you can bring your skis and snowshoes instead. Campers can choose from three campgrounds or check into a cozy cabin, all of them—bonus!—mosquito-free.
Rocky bluffs and forested ravines flank the Whitewater River in this 2,700-acre park, where outdoor activities abound. Climb the craggy peak of Inspiration Peak, fish for brown and rainbow trout along the river, or head down to the sandy beach to cool off with a swim in the natural lake. More than 10 miles of hiking trails are ready for exploration, and when the seasons turn, you can bring your skis and snowshoes instead. Campers can choose from three campgrounds or check into a cozy cabin, all of them—bonus!—mosquito-free.
Activities in the park
1 campground in Whitewater State Park MN
Looped by a myriad of campsites, anything from primitive to pull-through electric, Cedar Hill and Goosberry Glen campgrounds are just yards from the Whitewater Valley Visitors Center. And, totted as yet another anglers’ paradise in Minnesota, the area’s spring-fed namesake river is teeming with healthy population of brown, brook, and rainbow trout Read more...
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Notable Campgrounds
Notable Campgrounds
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
Whitewater State Park has something to offer through all four seasons. Come in summer to swim and fish; in spring to admire the wildflowers; or in winter to cross-country ski or snowshoe (rentals are available from the Visitor Centre). April through October is the main season, and many amenities close in winter. Minneiska Campground and cabins stay open year-round; all other campsites are open from March 25 through December 1.
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —